Life around the best MiLB ballpark in the country, AutoZone Park. Home of the Memphis Redbirds!

Player Spotlight: Lefty Relief Pitcher, Rich Rundles

Rich Rundles was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the the 3rd round of the 1999 amateur draft at the age of 18. He is currently the first and only player from Jefferson County to ever be drafted right out of high school.

After playing in the Red Sox organization for two full seasons, he was traded to the Montreal Expos half way through his third season where stayed from 2001-2005. In 2006, Rundles signed with the St. Louis Cardinals before being traded that same year to the New York Mets. The left-hander signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians February of 2007 staying put until joining the Memphis Redbirds for the 2010 season.

While with the Indians organization, Rundles made his major league debut September 3rd, 2008. He appeared in eight games in the big leagues surrendering one run on five hits while walking three and striking out six in five innings of work that year. The following year he spent most of his time with the triple-A Columbus Clippers but joined the Cleveland Indians for one game, May 24.

This year the Jefferson City product leads the Redbirds bullpen in game appearances with 56 (tied with Josh Kinney) and is second in innings pitched with 55.2. He ended the regular season with a 7-1 record, allowing 20 runs on 56 hits with 18 walks and 35 strikeouts for a 3.23 ERA.

Full name: Richard Lambert Rundles

Nicknames: Richie, Rundy, that’s about it.

Hometown: Jefferson City, TN

Favorite baseball player of all time: Growing up, it was Dale Murphy.

What team did you watch growing up?Atlanta Braves

What is your best moment on the diamond? Probably my first time pitching in the big leagues.

If you weren’t in baseball, what would you be doing? Something to do with architecture.

Favorite play in a baseball game: A diving play or a behind-the-back catch by the pitcher.

Most embarrassing moment while playing baseball: Again, my first major league outing. There was a squirrel that ran up on the mound.

If you were a kid would you rather be the one in Rookie of the Year, Angels in the Outfield or Little Big League? Rookie of the
Year

What is the most difficult part about playing professional baseball? The every day grind.

What is your favorite thing about being a Redbird? It’s pretty cool to be playing in my home state.

Tell us one thing about you the fans don’t already know: I used to ride mini horses in the rodeo when I was younger.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A baseball player

Where do you see yourself in 25 years? Somewhere in East Tennessee on a farm in the middle of nowhere.

Favorite food: Fried Okra, simply because every time I go home my Grandma makes it for me.

Newest Hobby: This off-season I made my own board game. That was pretty fun. I made all the pieces, boards, cards and the dice.

I’m afraid of…snakes.

Who is your greatest influence? My dad, for sure.

Who do people say you look like? Shaggy, from Scooby-Doo

Do you have any autographs? I do, probably the most important one I have is from Hank Aaron. Pretty cool.

What do you like best about the city of Memphis? The fan support of the Redbirds

Any broken bone stories? When I was four my cousin and I were always competitive against each other and we were jumping down the stairs. One would jump down and the other would say “well, I can jump on the higher one.” So I went to the top, jumped down and broke my left arm. My Grandmother did not want to tell my dad because it was my left arm so they tried to hide it for a
little bit.

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